§ 11.5 a.m.
§ Mr. G. R. Strauss (Vauxhall)On 14th June, this House authorised four of its Members to present on its behalf the Speaker's Chair to the Parliament of Malawi. The delegation consisted of the right hon. Member for Reigate (Sir J. Vaughan-Morgan), the hon. Member for Dorking (Sir G. Sinclair), the hon. Member for Smethwick (Mr. Faulds) and myself. We were accompanied by Mr. Sweetman of the Committee Office of this House.
It is my pleasant duty to report that our mission has been accomplished, and I can best convey to the House the cordial reception that we received as its delegates by reading the Resolution passed by the Malawi Parliament on the occasion of the presentation of the Chair, which took place on 7th July:
We, the Speaker and Members of the National Assembly of Malawi, in Parliament assembled, accept with sincere thanks and deep appreciation the gift of the Speaker's Chair from the Commons House of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as a symbol of the friendship and goodwill that exists between the Parliament and the people of the Republic of Malawi, and the Commons House of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and the British people.It was clear from what was subsequently said to us informally by Ministers of the Malawi Government and 1066 Members of its Parliament that the sentiments expressed in the Resolution were not just a formal expression of gratitude but were deeply and sincerely held.We had the opportunity during our week's stay in that country of visiting much of it and meeting many people. Everywhere we went and to whoever we talked we found a strong feeling of gratitude, friendship, and, indeed, aftection, towards the United Kingdom, with particular emphasis, for historic reasons, on its Scottish component.
I am sure that the gift from this House of a Speaker's Chair, and the sending of a delegation of its Members to present it, enhanced the close feeling of association with this country that is evident among the Malawi people.
I must add, Mr. Speaker, that the Speaker of the Malawi Parliament greatly appreciated your personal letter of greeting and good will which we presented to him on your behalf.
§ Mr. SpeakerI am sure that the House would wish me to thank the delegation for carrying out the mission entrusted to it and that the House would wish the Resolution which the right hon. Gentleman has brought this morning to be entered upon the Journal of the House.